Monday, June 30, 2014
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Friday, June 27, 2014
Monday, June 23, 2014
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Seeds
As I write these words I can hardly comprehend the time that
has passed. This is 2014 and Daddy
passed March 2010. It has been 4
years! Wow! I can still see him gathering flower seeds,
riding the lawn mower, roaming the hills with the weed eater, collecting apples
from the trees…all those things that made daddy! As I maintain my own yard now I am reminded
every time I pull a weed of the love and care Daddy took in his yard. The flowers that are blooming in my yard have
practically all been strategically placed by him at one time or another. Anytime he came over he would pack his
pockets full of seeds and I would see him roaming my yard spreading the posies
around. I usually would not see the
evidence till weeks later when they began to sprout up.
This week on my lunch break as I walked all over town I
stopped to admire and of course take pictures of some beautiful flowers along
Main Street. I noticed as I looked at
these freshly planted flowers that there among the blooms were a few vegetables
thrown in. A tomato plant and a cucumber
vine hidden and growing beautifully and there at the end of the row, a pear
tree among a bunch of crab apples. I
thought the town of Rainelle had really come up with an excellent idea! Pretty and plentiful! That was Monday. Wednesday I was in Lewisburg and as I go into
Wal-Mart there is Lonnie with a buggy of flowers. Now that is unusual for me to see so I had to
look twice! But yes, it was my brother
with a cart full of pretty posies. So we
talk for a bit about the different kinds of flowers daddy used to have, about
perennials, about annuals and collecting seeds. I tell him about my walk and how the flowers
looked so pretty in Rainelle. Well
wasn’t I surprised to learn that the town of Rainelle didn’t plant those
flowers…Lonnie did. And he added those
wonderful veggies. He plans on planting
a strawberry or 2 also. I thought how
much like Daddy he was; sowing seeds of flowers! Daddy would’ve approved; encouraged it and
probably given him a few of his own to sow!
Proverbs
22:6 (KJV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is
old, he will not depart from it
I think not
only of the seeds daddy sowed down through the years but the seeds that Mommy
sowed. Some have already sprouted, grown
and made more seeds. Some are laying
there waiting….I believe they have taken root, they just aren’t all flowery and
blooming yet. They are getting their
nutrition, water and lots of sunshine!
We just don’t see the bloom yet. Daddy’s
legacy of love of outdoors, hard work ethic, and love of family has produced
many seeds, some we see, and some we don’t.
But the roots run deep, just like with the seeds mommy has sown. Her goal in life was to see all of her
children in Heaven with her one day. She
planted those seeds. And just like daddy
would bring seeds to my house in his pocket and spread them without my
knowledge, Mommy was doing the same with us kids as we grew up. The many times I would see her sitting in her
rocking chair with her bible? Seeds
planted. The many times I saw her in
conversation with Jesus? Seeds. Being kind no matter what? Seeds.
Praying with me? Seeds. I have seen many of these seeds bloom…and as
I watch my children and the other grand children I see more seeds that she
planted take root and they are blooming and I know that in Heaven Mommy and
Daddy are thinking about their garden here on earth. They are still watching out for us. And every now and then I can hear daddy say,
pull that weed! Don’t let it grow
because before you know it, it will take over the whole garden! That’s those little annoying things in our
life. They all start out as little pesky
weeds but if we don’t go ahead and take care of them- BAM!- they consume out
whole life. Daddy was the best when it
came to killing out weeds. He would use
a dust and a spray and then he would always try a home remedy! I can’t help but think he would’ve been a fan
of Pinterest! But the main thing was…get
rid of the weed. Don’t nurture it, don’t
give it the time of day…get rid of it so the good seeds can grow; become
rooted; and bloom!
I didn’t
have the pleasure of being with my dad this Fathers Day but I did have the
opportunity to enjoy the garden he started.
I got to see the seeds bloom that he planted. I even got to pull a few weeds in his garden. And just remember just because you don’t see
bloom right away doesn’t mean the seeds you sow aren’t taking root and
growing. All things in Gods time…Even
seeds. So while you wait for the bloom…pull
a few weeds.
Matthew 13:8 (NIV)
8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,
sixty or thirty times what was sown
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Just wanted to say "Thank You" to everyone for such a birthday celebration you gave me and Vesta when I was home on May 31. It was a surprise to both of us and I considered it very special. Was wonderful to see everyone. Daniel and Alice, sorry that you were not able to be with us. Thank you Rita and Blain for the wonderful hospitaliy. Blain you are in my prayers daily for those pains in your arm and shoulder. Rita thank you for taking me to visit your church and for being my ride to the airport. Thanks for showing me 'your prayer room' in the woods. It is awesome. Lonnie and Marsha, the visit to your house provided me the first opportunity I have experienced since high school graduation to see three of the students with which I graduated nearly 45 years ago. One of them told me the school was planning to have the 45th graduation get together later this fall. Doubt I will be able to make it but it would be nice. They would all be shocked I bet if I showed up in my Dress Blue uniform! Ruth and Dan, thanks for picking me up in Charleston. Vesta, it was a great thrill to celebrate with you on your birthday, a special day you shared with my Mom, and your Great Grandma! Trish and Jacob, want to thank you for letting me help out in your garage. I really enjoyed doing that, more than you can know. Steve, that bench you created out of the cherry log is a work of art. Shows me just how much of Daddy you have, he was never one to throw away anything and could find unique uses for things to which other people would then exclaim, "Will, I declare!" Course they were just sorry they didn't think of it first. That bench will get lots of use. The door to your bathroom is a classic example, a tribute to you Teresa. Michelle, Joe, and the girls just moved out of their house in Germany and into a Hotel in preparation for their departure from Europe. We hope to soon have them where we can actually visit with them on occasion. It will indeed be a treat.
Love you all.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Happy Happy Happy
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands! How many times have you sung that song? Clapped your hands, stomped your feet and
that was enough to know you were happy. How about this one? I’ve got that joy joy joy joy down in my heart-WHERE?
Down in my heart! Where? Down in my
heart! Once again; we sing it, the Bible
says it so it must be so!
Psalm
32:1-2 (NLV)
Joy
of Being Forgiven
32 How happy he is whose wrong-doing is forgiven, and whose
sin is covered! 2 How happy is the man whose sin the Lord does not
hold against him, and in whose spirit there is nothing false.
What is happiness? What do you consider “Happy”? Is it a good job with enough money at the end
of the month to pay the bills with a little left over? Is it having your family all together? Maybe happiness to you is your
grandchildren? To some it may be “stuff”. And that’s OK! To those who think “stuff” will make them
happy, you will figure it out eventually.
But in order to figure it out, you will probably have to go through
something. Something that will devastate
you and you will try to cling to that stuff…that’s when you will figure it
out. Happiness…I am having a hard time
with that one. No matter how hard I clap
my hands and stomp my feet…I am not happy.
I am trying to find someone to blame…can’t find that either. I miss my husband and friend. I can’t blame him, I have tried. So how do we become happy? What’s the recipe? Because I really need it. Sadness I think comes from the devil. I am sure of it, but how do I overcome
it. Depression is not of God, I don’t
know how to overcome that either!
Philippians 2:15 (KJV)
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
I feel like my light has burnt out. I feel like I don’t know how to shine any more, not that I was very shiny anyway, but my sadness is beginning to creep into my everyday life. I pray…boy have I prayed. I pray for solutions, I pray for the darkness that has invaded my soul to leave just as the clouds roll in the sky. That’s how it feels. I feel like one day I was happy and a dark cloud rolled over and it started to rain on my life. The rain and dark cloud won’t leave me. So here I sit. But I have noticed as I sit under my rainy dark cloud, I am not alone. I am alone under my own cloud, but there are others out there sitting under their own cloud.
Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
If we are all sitting under our own cloud, we aren’t getting very sharp now are we?! The trouble with being sad is no one wants it. They avoid it like the common cold. And if they ask how you are, as soon as you start to tell them, they avoid it or leave as quick as they can. So it’s easier for all concerned just to keep it all locked up and out of the way. That works for a while. Until it starts eating at you and then you get to where you can’t hide it and there ya are!
Luke 10:27 (KJV)
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
I think if we do this, there won’t be room for sadness, no room for depression, anxiety…no room for anything but Jesus! Is this easy? NO! I haven’t been able to do it. I am trying but I need that help that comes from above.
The Great Commission. He gave us a mission with clear marching orders. Go make disciples…go help others…If we get it figured out enough to pass on to others then that’s our mission.
Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
As I walked Sunday I tried to figure out my life. Why things happen the way they do. I wondered why I was depressed. Are Christians supposed to be depressed? It isn’t from God. Well I am here to tell you I am depressed and Jesus lives right there in my heart. But that old devil tries to squeeze in there every chance he gets. And it’s very often with me! I have so many faults the devil just takes one look at me and says “happy, happy, happy!”
Lifes struggles and trials aren’t meant for us alone. If we are doing our part in the grand scheme of things we are looking out for others. God will send us someone with an encouraging word to lighten our load. Sometimes He offers guidance, sometimes just a message to hang in there! That was my case. I got that word I needed from a friend. So Monday as I worked I tried to not focus on my problems, not focus on ME! My day was so much better. I found myself reciting bible verses that I had learned years before. Ones I thought I had forgot but they were still there.
Philippians 2:16a (NLT)
16 Hold firmly to the word of life;
On a normal day I leave work at 6:15p but today we were finished. No patients so I left at 6pm. I got a phone call from a friend I haven’t talked to in almost a year. She was having problems with…guess what? Depression! We talked and prayed. I know God has a reason for us to go through the things we do. In all my instances I have encountered someone going through the same things I have went through. And in each of those encounters I have been able to tell them how God saw me through. Each and every time. He stood beside me, wrapped me up and sometimes He even said hold on tight cause it’s gonna be a bumpy ride! But He has never let me fall to the point I couldn’t get up!
Psalm 119:16 (GW)
16 Your
laws make me happy.
I never forget your word
I never forget your word
Today is Wednesday. It has taken me a few days to figure things out and I am still trying to figure things out. But just like that song says, if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands, it isn’t always that easy. We know we have much to be happy about but some days it’s just hard to be happy! So instead of happiness I am working on the JOY JOY JOY JOY down in my heart! Because if I have that joy, the happiness will come! The joy will see me through my sad days. It will see me through the days when I have nothing but tears. Joy will be there when I don’t have words to pray. That joy is Jesus. That’s where my happiness will come from.
As I finished praying with my friend and we were ready to end our conversation she said these words, “Keep shining your light Trish, keep shining your light!” I didn’t tell her how I felt about my own light being dim! But those are the exact words I needed to hear! God knew that! He sent my friend at exactly that moment to encourage me. To tell me to hang in there!
Psalm 119:35 (NLT)
35 Make
me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
for that is where my happiness is found.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Happy Birthday David
Happy Birthday David
A rhyme a verse of prose
So simple yet it can tell all our woes
But not this verse, not this story
This one is for God’s glory
A tale of a little boy
Born to bring, not happiness, but true joy
In Galatians chapter 5 we read:
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control, against such things there is no law
These are the attributes as you grew into a young man, you took heed
On the day you were born June 3rd, 1951
Mommy and Daddy welcomed an adorable new son
Number 5 in the line of Treadways
But one of millions in the line of Gods”way”
When Mommy gazed into your eyes,
What did she see? Because we know, yes, she was wise
Did she wonder, as with the 2 babes before you?
Were you for keeps or would God want you back too?
As days became months, months turned to years
You began to fulfill your destiny, putting to rest all fears
God had a plan for your life
And at a young age, you took a wife
Side by side, hand in hand
You followed Gods plan and traveled all across the land.
Serving your country, raising a family
But still putting God first, happily
When life got busy and yes, sometimes hard
You would return to your roots, and there would be mommy and daddy, standing in the yard
Always waiting with arms open wide
To welcome you home to the place where love always abides
You are doing what God intended you to do
Being the son, husband, brother, father, uncle, grandpa and patriot too
You are bearing the fruit of the spirit from Galatians chapter 5
And in John 15:5
I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
I can’t help but remember as I am sure you do as well,
The many times daddy pruned on his trees, so that the fruit would bear, to hear him tell
I think as he and mommy look upon us today, each and every one of us kids and grandkids here
They think along with our heavenly father, that his pruning was a success, as we celebrate this year.
This year of your birth, 63 in all,
It’s been magnificent! What do you think y’all?
Good times bad times we have to take them all
But we follow Gods lead and we cannot fall
Happy birthday my dear brother, thank you for setting such a good example
One we all can follow, sometimes coming back here to give us a sample
God be with you in the many years you have ahead of you
And don’t forget to let God lead as you continue to do
Remember your roots, from which you came
For that’s where your branches get their name.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Follow the Road
Sitting on the edge of the river bank with the fishing pole
in the water, the fishing line is stretched tight across the river. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the water is
taking the line and bait or if a fish has taken hold of it. But one thing is for sure, the boys sitting
there on the bank have the faith that there will be a fish on the other end of
their line…eventually. That’s how faith
works! You know it’s going to happen…you
just wait for it.
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight
of the faith. Take hold of the eternal
life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the
presence of many witnesses.
As I tried to find my way to the camp by the river, I went
on directions Randy gave me. They have
been there a million times and I am sure they thought there should be no
problem. Follow the road, follow the
road, that’s what they said. When I followed
the road I ended up at a white gate, dead end.
So back up and take a left go across the railroad tracks and once again,
follow the road. What about the fork in
the road? Stay left, all minor little
details but all important. Had I not
known which way to go I would’ve ended up at the wrong place. I figured it out with a little help.
My life is kind of like these directions. God keeps telling me, follow the road, follow
the road, but then I end up at unexplained dead ends and He says back up and go
left. I do and eventually get where God
is leading me. Sunday morning was one of
those snags in the road. It was chilly
but I had my window up just a little; enough so that the cat jumped up to enjoy
the fresh air. When he jumped up all of
my books hit the floor. So instead of
picking them up I decided to go ahead and get dressed for church they could
wait til after. So to church I
went. Our sermon was “The Good Soldier”
1 Timothy 6:12 fight the Good Faith. All
about faith.
Hebrews
11:6 (NLT)
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who
wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who
sincerely seek him.
I have been struggling with my faith. Saturday I was working out in the yard. The longer I worked the madder I got. This was something Danny always enjoyed. He did the big stuff I did the little
stuff. Last year I avoided the yard all
together. Kind of like my house. If I ignore it, it will go away. Well it’s been almost 2 years and no, it
doesn’t go away. It’s still there. Every reminder of him still there. His hat is still in the same spot, hanging there as if he is
coming back. So every weed I trimmed
reminded me one more time, he isn’t coming back. So I finally quit and went to the woods. That was no better,; trees had fallen down
during various storms, across the roadway, blocking the path. I thought how
different it would’ve been had he been there.
We would walk that same path I was walking only he would decide what
needed done and we would do it. Only
there isn’t a we anymore there is only me.
The same things need done except I don’t enjoy doing them. I try…but after 2 years I still can’t. Shouldn’t I be better by now? I am better at hiding it. I am better at covering it up. I am better at changing the subject… but no I
am not better. I remember last Memorial
Day…wasn’t that just yesterday? Seems
like it. Time has passed but not the
memories. Why is that? I had a dental appt and as it so happened
there was an emergency. So the dental
assistant had to sit and keep me company.
Chit chat! Don’t you know her
husband died of cancer 8 years before…she still feels like it was
yesterday. So I guess I am not so out of
the ordinary after all. The tears don’t
come as often or at least as often in public anymore. I have learned to suppress. Although the sadness I can’t hide. Someone told me this weekend I was very
transparent. I don’t think I like being
so transparent so that I have no place to hide.
No hiding place. When things are
out of balance they don’t work right. I
am out of balance…still. Will that last
forever? That’s where my questionable
faith comes in. I want to have the faith
that it will all work out but I am weak.
And I know that when I am weak He is strong. So right now He should be very strong. Life confuses me. Kind of like the directions to Randys
camp. Which way do I go? Left or right? Dead ends!
I feel like a leaf floating on the river; carried by the current, this
way and that. Sometimes without a
purpose or a plan just drifting. But I
know that isn’t so. It’s just that I don’t
know what it is.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
He knows my plan, I just don’t have the faith to trust him
and go along with it. After church I
came home and there in the floor were all the books….still in the floor. So I began to pick them up. The first book caught my eye. “Understanding How to Fight the Good Fight of
Faith” by Kenneth Hagin. Isn’t that just
like God? I had come to a dead end and
He was telling me to just breathe…slow down…back up and go left. He was telling me to go across the railroad
tracks and just follow the road. Just
follow the road. Are there going to be
forks in the road ahead? Yes. Confusing dead ends? Yes…but with faith I will follow the road,
follow the road. He knows my plan, my
future; I just have to trust him with it.
If he has to knock over a few books to get my attention then that’s one
of those minor road bumps. I have had
this book for a year now and I have picked it up, read a page or two and put it
back. But I think God is telling me now
is the time to read it. He has something
to tell me and it is in this book.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
He is trying to fix my balance…If I will only see the old me…the old “we” is gone. I am a new creature thanks to Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day
Faith grows with understanding Gods Word.
John 16:23 (NIV)
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name
As I follow the road…the road God has laid out ahead for me this is all I know to do!
1 Chronicles 22:19a (NIV)
19 Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.
I am sure there will be no dead ends on this path!
Monday, May 19, 2014
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